NON-RESISTANT OR NON-VIOLENT?

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

 Matthew 5:38-39

We say that we believe in non-resistance, but is that really the best English term? Jesus is not talking about categorical evil and letting it overrun your life. The implication is that we have done something wrong. This was implied earlier in Matthew 5:23-24. Your brother has something against you because you have offended him/her.  Maybe we didn’t do something wrong but that is the way it is perceived. That’s why we are attacked. In that case, we are not to take personal vengeance. Nor are we to take justice into our own hands. God does not want individual vigilantes. Can you call 911? Of course! It might be a situation where you have intervened to help someone being assaulted and you take some blows.

Jesus is not condoning domestic violence. He is the One who reached out to the Samaritan woman. He is the One who came to the defense of the woman caught in adultery. If you are being abused physically, verbally, or sexually then you need to tell someone. There is hope, help and healing available. If you are in such a situation, don’t think, “Where is God?” Rather, tell God’s people. This passage says don’t take vengeance into your own hands. Instead, tell those who can help you.

The owners of Hobby Lobby, the Green family, sued the U.S. Government over Obamacare trying to make them support abortion. Did they sin by resisting government “law?” The Green family argued. “We won’t pay for any abortive products. We believe life begins at conception.” This is similar to what Jesus did. Jesus defended the Father’s honor by driving the moneychangers from the temple. Jesus took action for the sake of someone else. That is what the Green family did. They took action on behalf of the unborn. Let us also defend the unborn. In the Matthew passage, Jesus is talking about personal vengeance and vendettas.

Ike Graham

LABORING UNDER THE SON

For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love

which you have shown toward His name. Hebrews 6:10a

King Solomon wrote much about labor in Ecclesiastes.  The theme of labor and toil (31 times) permeates it.  “Labor” means “to toil to the point of exhaustion.”  Here are some of Solomon’s complaints about “labors under the sun”:  What profit is it? (7:3); It’s not profitable! (2:11); I really hate it! (2:17-18); It’s a big pain! (2:22-23); There is no end to it! (4:8a); I can’t get ANY satisfaction. (4:8b); It all just goes down the tubes! (6:7); It is ALL in vain, vanity! (1:2); I can’t even take it with me when I die! (5:13-17). Does this describe how YOU feel about your work? 

To find God’s best in life, we must lift our eyes above the sun to God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ.  We find light at the end of the tunnel with needed spiritual truth hidden amongst the complaining.  The bad news is that man has really messed things up.  “There is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (7:20).  Furthermore, “God will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (12:14).  Fortunately there is good news.  First, we all have an inner desire for more than this earthly life as God has “set eternity in their heart“(3:11).  Secondly, God desires to deliver and free us from life’s futile treadmill if we will but seek Him: “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may prolong his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God” (8:12). 

Our labors will have real meaning as we seek to please, glorify and serve the Lord and not ourselves (1 Corinthians 10:31; 15:58).  Hopefully someday He will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful slave” (Matthew 25:21, 23)!  What will your labor amount to under the SON?

Bob Kulp

SKILLED

This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel had given.

Ezra 7:6a

Isn’t it inspiring to watch someone display a high level of skill. Years ago I watched a young man display his skill on a double bass. The double bass itself is a large instrument. The strings alone are taller than a man. And yet as his fingers danced up and down the finger board, he showed no sign of hesitancy about what he was doing or incompetence in the execution of each note. He had mastered his instrument!

Ezra is described as being skilled in the Law of Moses. Jewish tradition teaches that he could write the entire Law from memory. That’s skill. Some may attribute his ability to good genes – after all, he was descended from Aaron the High Priest (vs. 1-5). However, skill goes deeper than that. Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings.” Skill here is connected with “work”. So how does someone gain skill? By doing lots and lots practice. It takes time and effort. It takes careful attention to every detail. It takes self-discipline to get it right every time. But that is looking at it from the human side.

For Ezra, there was more to being skilled. Three times in this chapter Ezra points out that, “the hand of Yahweh was upon him” (7:6, 9, 28). The key to Ezra’s success was that God was blessing him. All of his efforts to master God’s Law were meaningless without God’s intervention. Yes, Ezra had worked hard to prepare himself, but it was God who gifted Ezra with the ability to display his skill.

Philip Moeller

LOVING THE LIGHT

And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.  John 1:5

When I was a small boy, my night light went out, and in fear I thought I was drifting about in outer space. My frantic call, “Mama,” soon brought relief.

“Light” is one of the major themes in John’s gospel, used 14 times in the book. Light and darkness are familiar symbols in scripture. In an intellectual sense, light is a reference to the Biblical truth while darkness refers to the error of falsehood. I love the light and hate the darkness. Dec. 22 is the worst day of the year to me, for it’s on that date that daylight hours begin to shrink each day and darkness grows.

In a moral sense, light is a reference to holiness or purity, while darkness refers to sin or wrong-doing. Darkness has special significance in relation to Satan and his demons, who rule the present spiritually dark world as prince of the power of the air, promoting spiritual darkness and rebellion against God. The devil loves the darkness and hates the light. Let’s be sure to let our little light shine as beacons to this sin-darkened world.  Like John the Baptizer, we are not the source of God’s light, merely a reflection of the light. Jesus is the true Light. He helps use our way to God and shows us how to walk along that way. But Christ has chosen to reflect His light thru His followers to an unbelieving world, perhaps because unbelievers are unable to bear the full blazing glory of His light firsthand. The word “witness” indicates our role as reflectors of Christ’s light.

We are never to present ourselves as light to others, but always are to point them to Christ the Light. What a tremendous privilege!

Red Williams

BIG THINGS

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46:10

When I was in EMS school working as a student rider on the ambulance, we ran a complex call for a cardiac patient, and I couldn't keep up with the treatment activity. About the time my brain registered it was time for an EKG, a medic or volunteer had already done it; when I thought it was time for an IV, someone was already prepping and so on. After the call (and being chewed out for uselessness by my trainer!) a friendly medic took me aside and gave me some advice: "Just do something". His point was that I could at least look busy, even if I had no clue what to do next. And that advice helped me! On the next call, I picked up the trash generated by medications and supplies being pulled out of their packaging, and the trainer thought I was great! Gradually, as I understood more and more, I made myself busy taking basic vital signs and beginning treatments which eventually grew into running the calls themselves.

However helpful that advice may have been for a paramedic, it is one of the lessons I've had to "unlearn" in ministry. If I sense that I should be "doing something" I've had to retrain my habits to make that something prayer before anything else. The Psalmist indicated through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God will exalt Himself in a special way among the nations when His people cease their striving, and abide in their relationship with Him. Maybe you are little bit like me and find yourself working hard to accomplish big things. Whatever it is, what a great reminder that it probably isn't as big as God exalting Himself among the nations, which happens when His people stop and pray.

Joe Ensley

THINK SOUNDLY!

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”;

and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,

‘I AM has sent me to you.’”   Exodus 3:14

God told Moses that His name was I AM, and that was because, as He said, “I am that I am.”  I can also say that.  I am, after all, what I am.  I am existing.  I am alive.   I am important.   I am valuable.  I am loved.  However, lest I become high minded and narcissistic, I must remember that I am created in the image of God.  And, as an image, I am not the exact same as God Himself. Now that means that I am what I am created to be and no more.  I exist only because God created me and wills that I continue to exist.  I am alive only because of His provisions and protections. I am as important as God chooses to make me.  The truth is that I can be replaced. I am valuable only because God has placed value in me.  And yes, I am loved, but only because God chooses to love me, certainly not because I deserve it. As the Apostle Paul said in Acts 17:28 “for in Him we live and move and exist. . .”  It is only in God that I am what I am supposed to be. He is the Omnipotent Self-Existent God of the universe.  I am a small and partial image of that.  Therefore, we should not be proud, nor should we feel depressed and worthless.  But we should follow Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:3 that one is “not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” 

Tom Johnson

PEACEMAKERS

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

Somebody said Washington D.C. has a lot of peace monuments. They build one after each war. What do we mean by peace? Peace is not just stopping the war. Peace is creating the righteousness that brings the two parties together in love.  Peace is not simply the absence of conflict or strife.  There’s no strife or conflict in a cemetery, but we can hardly use a cemetery as a model of peace.  No, peace, as God sees it, is far more than the absence of something.  It is the presence of something.  Biblically, it is the presence of righteousness that causes right relationships.  So, if we are to be peacemakers, we do not only stop the war, we replace it with the righteousness of God. It is an aggressive good.

There’s a difference between truce and peace. Truce just says you lay down your guns and you don’t shoot for a while. That’s the world’s definition when everybody stops for that one glorious brief moment while we reload. That’s truce. Peace is when the truth is known, the issue is settled, and the two parties embrace each other.  When the war is not raging, it isn’t over; rather, it is called a “cold war.”

Biblical peace conquers the problem in the middle ground so that the two can come together. It builds a bridge to two sides. Sometimes it means struggle. Sometimes it means pain. Sometimes it means anguish. Sometimes it means a little more strife, but in the end, real peace can come. A true biblical peacemaker will not let sleeping dogs lie. He will not save the status quo if truth must be brought to bear on the issue. He doesn’t say, “Well, you know, I know the person’s doing wrong, but, oh, I just would rather have a peaceful situation. Just want to keep the peace.” That’s a cop out. True peace only comes after the truth is brought to bear on the situation. Are you a biblical peacemaker?

Ike Graham

THE SCHOOL OF HARDSHIP

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him.  Hebrews 12:5

As we mentioned previously, there are four reasons God can use physical pain and psychological hurt. One of them is to teach us valuable lessons, preventing far worse destruction later.

The apostle Paul is a profound example of this spiritual principle. He famously experienced an ongoing affliction. Scripture records: “… for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me” (2 Cor. 12:7).

It was not personal sin that caused Paul’s thorn but potential sin. God allowed it in the school of life to teach him humility. Because Paul was uniquely privileged to receive profound visions and divine revelations, this thorn served as a constant reminder of his human weakness before God. Through this, he learned that God’s strength is perfected in weakness.

Joseph provides another powerful example of God utilizing bad circumstances for education. Why did God allow his brothers to hate him, sell him into slavery, only to be falsely accused and placed in an Egyptian prison? Partly because God was preparing him to save nations from a devastating famine. Joseph learned vital leadership and resource management skills while serving in Potiphar’s house and inside the prison walls.

Years later, Joseph confidently told his brothers: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to do what has happened on this day, to keep many people alive”  (Gen. 50:20).

Joseph would not have realized God’s plan without facing those hardships. Could it be that God is teaching you an important lesson through your pain? Then you are enrolled in God’s School of Hardship.

Ethan Kallberg

I’M NOT GOD!

The secret things belong to Yahweh our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever,

that we may do all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29

     As a pastor I am often asked tough questions like “Why did God allow John the Baptist to be beheaded when he was serving God?” or “Why does God allow some to die in car crashes and spares others?”  I often have to plead ignorance and say “I don’t know!  I’m not God!”  I’ve been told that since I graduated from seminary I should know all these answers.  I may have a Master of Divinity degree, BUT I can never master divinity!

     While we can never know all the answers, here are some things that we can know for sure about God and His dealings in this world.  Since I am limited on words per page, please get your Bible and read all these passages for yourself so you, too, can affirm all these truths about God.

1.     He is in total sovereign control of the universe! (Isaiah 46:9-10)

2.     He is accountable to no one and answers to no one!  (Daniel 4:35)

3.     He is ALWAYS good!  (Psalm 25:8)

4.     God does allow bad things to happen and judges sin!  (Isaiah 45:7) 

5.     He is always trying to get our attention!  (Luke 13:1-5)

6.     He loves us and wants the best for us!  (John 3:16; 10:10)

7.     He leaves our choices to us!  (Joshua 24:15)

8.     He can be trusted and depended on!  (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

9.     He works all for the believer’s good!  (Romans 8:28; James 1:2-4) 

     These are a few of the things about God that I do know for sure.  I believe His Word!  I choose to let God be God and settle for being His humble servant.  It sure avoids a lot of frustration, doubt and anger!  How about you?

Bob Kulp

BETRAYED BY A BRICK

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Yahweh, and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

The Shaker religion gave us some great inventions, like rocking chairs, flat brooms, and pegs to hang things on the wall. They also had the cleanest inns in the country.

But, like every other cult, they also had some strange and unbiblical theology. They believed that their leader in America, Ann Lee (Mother Ann), was the incarnation of Christ. That meant to them that Christ had returned and started His kingdom, and that there should be no more marital relations, because everyone would now live forever without having a husband and wife union (that kind of explains why you don’t see Shakers today!).

 Something else the Shakers believed in was common property: that everyone owned everything, and that no one should take credit for anything they’ve done. However, when I visited a historical Shaker site in Kentucky, there was on display a handmade brick from one of their buildings that had been torn down. On the brick was written the name of the mason who had built the building. The man had put his name on the brick but turned it inside the wall so that others would not see that he took credit for building the structure.

No cult, however sneaky, will put anything past the Lord’s eyes! I guess that includes you and me, too.

Davy L. Troxel

ALL TOO FAMILIAR

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,

Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness,

Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

One of the houses my parents bought was two properties away from a volunteer fire department. Not long after moving in, one night the siren went off to call the volunteers to the station. Abruptly awakened I was confused and alarmed (no pun intended) by the ear splitting sound! After a few seconds I figured it out, waited for it to end, and finally got back to sleep. Over the course of not too long a time, I got used to the siren at night. It still woke me up, but to a semi-consciousness in which I would think “Oh, it’s the fire siren,” and immediately go back to sleep. Note that it was the repetition of the same thing over the course of time that dulled my senses to the noise.

Unfortunately the same holds true for the dulling of our culture’s senses over sin. I remember a time when homosexuality was unacceptable behavior. Then came the appeal to just accept it as an “alternate lifestyle.” When that was successful the campaign for homosexual rights started, including “marriage.” When laws were changed and rights accepted, then anyone who stood for righteousness was narrow minded, wrong, subject to harassment, and even taken to court resulting in a 180 degree flip from evil to good, and good to evil.

The purveyors of evil are sounding a “siren” often and loud to dull society’s consciences to righteousness in many other areas. Don’t let your spiritual senses be dulled by their constant barrage of evil. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).

Jeffrey Eno

WHAT IS IMPORTANT?

For Ezra had set his heart... Ezra 7:10a

If something is important enough to you, you will find a way to accomplish it. Let’s say you have irrefutable evidence that there is a treasure chest with several million dollars in jewelry in your backyard. You would probably stop at nothing to dig up every last square inch of your yard until that chest was found. Why? Because that amount of  money has great value to you.

For Ezra, the most important thing was knowing Yahweh’s law. He “set his heart” to know it. The word “set” is the opposite of something that is flimsy. It speaks of strength, durability, and longevity. It speaks of a heart that is unwavering in its commitment to know God. Applied to us today, such determination is especially necessary because there are many things which, through constant battering, try to compel us to waver – not the least of which can be our own deceitful hearts. Solomon wisely warned, “Guard your heart with all diligence” (Proverbs 4:23).

The classic example in Scripture is Daniel. Through no fault of his own Daniel found himself captive in the foreign culture of Babylon, surrounded by all kinds of temptations and facing three years of indoctrination in pagan thinking. Yet Scripture says of Daniel that he “set in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). Daniel was unwavering. He had studied enough of God’s Law to know what was expected of him, and he was going to do it. He knew that to compromise in the slightest amount at the beginning could lead to compromising on larger things later. He, like Ezra, had his priorities right. What things are most important to you?

Philip Moeller

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Matthew 5:8

Pure in heart; how does one obtain a pure heart? When we are conceived and born into this world, even then we do not have a pure heart (Psalm 58:3). Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:8 that we are blessed, living in a state of inward bliss, inward happiness which is neither the result of circumstance nor subject to change on the basis of circumstance, when we have a pure heart. Moreover, we will see God. “Pure in heart” does not mean perfection as most people define “perfect.”  The dictionary definition of perfect is flawless; completely free from faults and defects. Some think of it as lacking no essential detail. But…is that what Jesus is saying? We get our English word, “catharsis” from this Greek word translated “pure.” It means to cleanse. That is how this word is used in Acts 15:9. There it says believers’ hearts have been cleansed by the Holy Spirit when they believed. In this verse, faith is the channel, the hose of the pressure washer through which the cleansing Holy Spirit moves in a believer’s life to bring spiritual cleansing and renewal (Titus 3:5).

A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, “What do you put on your face to make it shine?” With surprise the man of God answered, “I don’t put anything on it!” His questioner began to lose patience and said emphatically, “Yes, you do! All of you who believe in Jesus seem to have it. I’ve seen it in the towns of Agra and Surat, and even in the city of Bombay.” Suddenly the Christian understood, and his face glowed even more as he said, “Now I know what you mean, and I will tell you the secret. It’s not something we put on from the outside but something that comes from within. It’s the reflection of the light of God in our hearts” (M. Lloyd-Jones).

A pure heart, a transformed core of your being, a cleansed heart brings peace with God (Romans 5:1); pleasantness in life (Psalm 24:3-6); and preparation for death (Psalm 17:15; Phil. 1:21). Do you have a pure heart? Don’t leave home without it.

Ike Graham

RUST AND RAGS

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

Leah and I have been married for 21 years. Among the wedding gifts we received from kind friends and family were beautiful bathroom towels and a nice set of muffin tins. Lately, we have noticed our towels coming apart at the seams and developing thin spots where lush, water-absorbing material once existed. Our muffin tins also show the age of our marriage; the nonstick coating has worn off, and they have begun to rust.

Leah asked if we could afford to replace them since the muffins now stick to the tins, making it very difficult to extract them. Similarly, we see the necessity of replacing the towels before we are left with one-inch square pieces of faded cloth that couldn’t dry a wet gnat.

All material things on this earth will break down and fade away. Your home requires constant maintenance, or it will be overcome by weather elements and destructive pests looking for shelter. That is why Jesus commanded us not to treasure the things of this world that can be destroyed or stolen.

Jesus knows we need certain material goods in this physical world to live and work, but we dare not accumulate extra, unnecessary stuff. Instead, Jesus commands us to store up treasures that can never be destroyed or stolen. What are these eternal treasures? First and foremost is the eternal God who saved us and desires for us to know Him. Other eternal treasures include the souls of people—our spouses, children, family, brothers and sisters in Christ, and the lost who need to know Jesus. Finally, the rewards we receive from our Lord at the Bema judgment will last forever.

What does your heart treasure?

Ethan Kallberg

FLASH AND BANG

So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.” And behold, Yahweh was passing by!  And a great and strong wind was tearing up the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind.  And after the wind an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.  Then after the earthquake a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a thin gentle whisper.

1 Kings 19:11–12.

I was recently at what was advertised as a worship service where the trendy band, audio equipment, fog machines and lights overwhelmed a large crowd and, if given a chance, would have overwhelmed any reasonable budget meeting! As song after song that had been produced by heretical "music ministries" pummeled the audience, I couldn't help but notice how far the Spirit of God was from that place. What was relatable to me, was the desperation of broken humans to experience the living God. I know well the need to have the Lord meet with me and provide soul care!  And there have been times when I, too, have been tempted to find a way to purchase a spiritual encounter that avoids boring stuff like faithfulness, Bible reading or prayer. It reminds me of when I was with a motorcycle riding buddy and some guy was telling us how much he loved the sound of his sport bike when it was wound up to go fast. My friend just muttered, "Well, I ride a Harley because I'd rather sound like a thunderstorm than a bumblebee!” I have a similar sentiment when it comes to motorcycles. But loud pipes, bright lights or a big bass amp cannot replicate the true work of the Spirit of the Living God! The story in 1 Kings is a reminder that often the most powerful moments with God's Spirit will take place in the midst of ordinary, unassuming methods. Spiritual depth and experience is granted freely and regularly to the sheep who sit with their Shepherd.

Joe Ensley

MOVING DAY

Though I walk in the midst of distress, You will revive me;

You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

and Your right hand will save me.

Psalm 138:7

When we returned to Africa in 1988, the rebel activity in Chad had settled down. After finding a house in Moundou, we went to the Central African Republic—where we had worked during our first term—to gather our stored household items. We asked local gendarmes (federal police) to watch as we loaded the large mission truck, but they refused, stating they were not customs agents.

We had everything packed by Thursday evening and started out late Friday morning. By then, the gendarmes had already begun celebrating the weekend and were drunk. They stopped us in front of their station, demanding we unload everything for inspection. To demonstrate their seriousness, armed men pointed automatic rifles at us from every window. They laughed as we began unloading. Thankfully, well before we finished, they tired of their amusement. We reloaded our stuff as best as we could and resumed our trip.

We dreadfully anticipated what would happen at the border. However, a local tribal pastor had asked us for a ride. When we arrived at the customs office, the official in charge came out and hugged him.  It just “so happened” that this pastor had led that very official to the Lord years earlier. Instead of the hostility we expected, we were greeted warmly and served a snack. The official filled out the required paperwork without inspecting a single thing. We crossed into Chad, and the rest of our trip was entirely without snags.

David faced many dangers in his life, yet he knew that Yahweh was always present to protect and guide. Likewise, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and will never forsake us (John 14:16-18). Let’s face life with confidence, knowing that God is sovereign. On moving day, He protected us from danger and perfectly arranged the schedule so that we were greeted by a brother in Christ at the border.

Les Vnasdale

THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS

Then I heard something like the voice of a great crowd and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”

Revelation 19:6

Perhaps the greatest musical piece ever written is George Frideric Handel’s Messiah with its famous Hallelujah Chorus.   Handel worked on it from August 22-September 14, 1741 hardly stopping to eat or sleep.  At times he would run to his harpsichord singing “Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!”  When he finished the 260 page oratorio he stated, “I think I did see all heaven open before me and the great God Himself!”

The Hallelujah Chorus emphasizes that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords reigning forever.

What will Christ’s millennial reign be like?  The earth will return to the conditions of Eden with no unredeemed people(to start with – Matthew 25:31-46); no wars (Isaiah 2:4); no poverty (Isaiah 35:1; Ezekiel 47:8-12; Joel 2:26); no injustice(Isaiah 11:3-4); no fear of wild animals (Isaiah 11:6-9); no physical suffering (Isaiah 35:5-6; 65:20); no sadness (Isaiah 35:10); and no open unbelief (Isaiah 60:11-12).  Satan will be bound for those years.  One would surmise that living in a perfect environment, not having to deal with Satan’s devilish schemes, and having Jesus Himself on the throne would produce perfect people.  Wrong! “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can know it?  I, Yahweh, search the heart” (Jeremiah 17:9-10a).  At the end of the 1000 years when Satan is released, he is able to deceive millions to rebel against the Lord, His people and His beloved city, Jerusalem.  All these rebels experience a fiery end, and Satan is put out of business permanently (Revelation 20:7-10). 

Today Jesus seeks to rule and reign on the throne of each of our hearts.  Is He your Lord, King and Savior (John 3:16)?  If Jesus rules in your heart today, someday you will reign with Him (Revelation 20:4-6).  Strike up the Hallelujah Chorus!

Bob Kulp

ARE YOU MERCIFUL?

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7

Mercy is one of the responses of God out of His love to His creation. In reference to us, Ephesians 2:4 says: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love…”  Mercy flows from the love of God. God doesn’t count His riches in money. He counts His riches in mercy. Mercy is not softness. It’s not the man of whom it is said, “He wouldn’t kill a snake in a nursery.” Mercy is not sentiment. It is not just shedding tears in pity, but then you don’t do anything. It is an element of love which motivates one to action. It originates from the love of God. It is another of the communicable attributes of God which humans possess because we are made in the image of God; marred though our image is.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lam. 3:22 KJV). In other words, He withholds our deserved punishment. “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” Each morning greets you with the mercy of God. God doesn’t have to take your life for it to end. He only has to stop giving it, and He gives it in mercy. Have you pondered why God did not immediately destroy Adam and Eve when they sinned? It is because in His mercy, i.e., the withholding of what they deserved, He spared them for salvation. He did that for you also. He gives us grace, not what we deserve. When some believers are asked, “How are you?” They respond, “Better than I deserve.” Is that true of you? Try it next time someone asks, “How are you?” What if you are not merciful? Check out what Jesus says about that in Matthew 6:14-15. Forgiveness is a form of showing mercy.

Ike Graham

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN?

And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him.’  

Hebrews 12:5

In the preceding verse, the author of Hebrews reminds us, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.” This is the ultimate measuring rod for suffering. As difficult as life may get, you are still alive! Jesus literally died in His striving against sin—not His own, but the sin of the world. He successfully resisted Satan and those operating under demonic influence. Today, we have Jesus as our perfect example of endurance. We also have a great cloud of witnesses testifying that they endured hardships by anchoring themselves to God’s promises in the famous “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews 11.

The Greek word for discipline is paideia, which means the rearing, training, teaching, and education of a child. It does not simply mean negative punishment. Remember, Christians can never be punished for their sins because Jesus already endured that full wrath on the cross. Instead, God lovingly disciplines us as His children to protect us from further wandering, sometimes allowing us to experience the natural consequences of our choices.

The positive focus of paideia is education. Even when personal sin is not the cause, our heavenly Father uses difficulties to train us in godliness. This fatherly education takes four distinct forms. When we experience “bad” things, the Father utilizes His Word to explain our circumstances for our ultimate growth and edification. Second Timothy 3:16 reveals these four purposes: “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”

Ethan Kallberg

CLOSE ENOUGH

Is there yet a man in the wicked house, along with treasures of wickedness, and a short measure which is cursed? Can I purify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? 

Micah 6:10-11

There is only one place in America where four states come together. The Four Corners Monument stands at the spot where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah join. I – and thousands of others – have gotten down in spread-eagle fashion over the top of this marker and had our picture taken as we awkwardly posed in four states all at once. I even bought an arrow there that was made by a real native American as a souvenir of the place.

In truth, all I did was make a fool of myself. The marker was placed there in 1875. Since then, improved surveying methods have proved the real four corners to be 1800 feet west of that spot. But the Supreme Court held that the borders marked by the monument will continue to be observed!

This makes me wonder how much other erroneous material I have accepted because of mankind’s warped mathematics, twisted social mores, misunderstood religion and self-idolizing principles.

No doubt, we are all a little off in our estimation of what is absolutely true. May His grace overcome the times of our life when we act on what is “close enough” instead of what is completely true. Someday, His own court will convene, and we will see at last how great His grace and mercy really are!

Davy L. Troxel